Air/oil coalescer with centrifugally assisted drainage

In combination:

• a rotating component;
• and
• a coalescing filter assembly attached to said rotating component so as to impart rotary motion to said coalescing filter assembly, said coalescing filter assembly being constructed and arranged to separate oil from blowby gas and including a filtering medium defining a plurality of flow-through pores, the rate of rotation of said coalescing filter assembly being sufficient to generate a centrifugal force through said plurality of flow-through pores to keep said pores in a dry condition, said coalescing filter assembly having a coalescing filter element shaped from said filtering medium and configured with a central hub and a plurality of hollow spokes radiating from said hub.

A coalescing filter assembly comprising:

• a support structure configured and arranged for attachment to a rotating component;
• and
• a cylindrical coalescing filter element constructed and arranged for attachment to said support structure such that rotary motion is able to be imparted to said coalescing filter element, said coalescing filter element being constructed and arranged to separate oil from blowby gas and including a pleated filtering medium defining a plurality of flow-through pores, the rate of rotation of said coalescing filter element being sufficient to generate a centrifugal force through said plurality of flowthrough pores to keep said pores in a dry condition.

A coalescing filter assembly comprising:

• a coalescing filter constructed and arranged for attachment to a rotating component so as to impart rotary motion to said coalescing filter, said coalescing filter being constructed and arranged to separate oil from blowby gas and including a filtering medium defining a plurality of flow-through pores, the rate of rotation of said coalescing filter being sufficient to generate a centrifugal force through said plurality of flow-through pores to keep said pores in a dry condition, said coalescing filter being shaped from said filtering medium and configured with a central hub and a plurality of hollow spokes radiating from said hub.

In combination:

• a rotating gear;
• and
• a coalescing filter assembly having a conical shape and being attached to said rotating gear so as to impart rotary motion to said coalescing filter assembly, said coalescing filter assembly being constructed and arranged to separate oil from blowby gas and including a filtering medium defining a plurality of flow-through pores, the rate of rotation of said coalescing filter assembly being sufficient to generate a centrifugal force through said plurality of flow-through pores to keep said pores in a dry condition, said coalescing filter assembly including a first end adjacent said rotating gear and a second end, said second end being constructed and arranged for exit of coalesced oil from said coalescing filter assembly.

A coalescing filter assembly comprising:

• a coalescing filter constructed and arranged for attachment to a rotating component so as to impart rotary motion to said coalescing filter, said coalescing filter being constructed and arranged to separate oil from blowby gas and including a filtering medium defining a plurality of flow-through pores, the rate of rotation of said coalescing filter being sufficient to generate a centrifugal force through said plurality of flow-through pores to keep said pores in a dry condition;
• and
• a bypass valve for venting blowby gas around said coalescing filter.

A coalescing filter assembly comprising:

• a coalescing filter having a conical shape and being constructed and arranged for attachment to a rotating component so as to impart rotary motion to said coalescing filter, said coalescing filter being constructed and arranged to separate oil from blowby gas and including a filtering medium defining a plurality of flow-through pores, the rate of rotation of said coalescing filter being sufficient to generate a centrifugal force through said plurality of flow-through pores to keep said pores in a dry condition, said coalescing filter includes a first end adjacent said rotating component and a second end, said second end being constructed and arranged for the exit of coalesced oil from said coalescing filter.

A coalescing filter for use in cooperation with a rotating component for imparting rotary motion to said coalescing filter, said coalescing filter having a cylindrical shape and being constructed and arranged for attachment to said rotating component, said coalescing filter being constructed and arranged to separate oil from blowby gas and including a pleated filtering medium defining a plurality of flow-through pores, the rate of rotation of said coalescing filter being sufficient to generate a centrifugal force through said plurality of flow-through pores to keep said pores in a dry condition.